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10. Tom Paris and B’Elanna Torres (Star Trek: Voyager)
Trapped in the Delta Quadrant didn’t leave the crew with too many romantic options. But Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill) and B’Elanna’s (Roxann Dawson) character growth throughout the series is consistent. Tom started self-centered but slowly became a man you could trust with dorky hobbies. B’Elanna’s anger drove her every decision, but she mellowed out with time. Their romance is organic and believable, and it succeeded beyond all odds.
They become friends and eventually become romantic partners. Their domestic scenes in the Hirogen Nazi Germany holodeck episodes show their best selves. The best-done canonical Trek romances pay off without a lot of drama. Unlike the next one on the list.
9 Worf and Jadzia Dax (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
In her early years on Deep Space 9, Lt. Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) was courted by Doctor Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig) and Quark (Armin Shimerman), but neither could win her heart. In 2372, Lt. Commander Worf (Michael Dorn) met Jadzia for the first time, and they fell in love thanks to her impressive knowledge of Klingon history and society. What helped the chemistry between the actors is that they would often flirt behind the scenes in character.
They married in a Klingon wedding ceremony in 2374. The two even tried to conceive a child together with the help of Dr. Bashir. But their romance ended in tragedy. She was attacked and killed by a possessed Gul Dukat (Marc Alaimo. Her last heartbreaking words are “Our baby would’ve been so beautiful…”
7. Ash Tyler & Michael Burnham (Star Trek: Discovery)
A major narrative point in Star Trek: Discovery was the romance between Ash Tyler (Shazad Latif) and Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green), which was complicated when it was revealed that Ash Tyler was the Klingon Voq in disguise, with a suppressed Starfleet ego and a surgically altered look. The stress and betrayal brought on by Voq’s revelation and the ensuing psychological effects on Burnham forced their relationship to collapse, even though it started with a sincere connection and mutual attraction.
Ashburn (nickname given to their relationship) is a fairly popular ship in the fandom – there are many works inspired by the pairing, mostly fan-made videos and fanfiction. On AO3, Ashburn is the most written relationship for Ash and the second most written for Michael. It is also the third most written about relationship in the show.
6. James Kirk & Edith Keeler (Star Trek: The Original Series)
In the Star Trek universe, Captain James T. Kirk’s (William Shatner) greatest love is a matter of interpretation, with several strong contenders. “The City on the Edge of Forever” follows Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) as they pursue a rogue Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) through time. Spock and Kirk must prevent McCoy from drastically changing history after landing in New York during the Great Depression.
The two eventually conclude that to maintain the chronology, Edith Keeler (Joan Collins), a visionary social worker with whom Captain Kirk has fallen in love, must die. Ultimately, the captain is forced to choose to sacrifice love to save the future. While their love was brief, the acting makes the relationship come to life.
5. Willard Decker and Lieutenant Ilia (Star Trek: The Motion Picture)
Lieutenant Ilia (Persis Khambatta) was a female Deltan Starfleet officer. She served under the command of Captain James T. Kirk aboard the USS Enterprise. She had been in a romantic relationship with Will Decker (Stephen Collins) on her home planet, Delta IV, for years before her assignment. The probe V’ger attacked the ship and absorbed her body and creating a duplicate.
After losing the captain’s post and Ilia, Decker offered to merge with V’Ger. Decker and the Ilia probe embrace and vanish in a flash of dazzling light and change into an unidentified new lifeform.
4. Spock and Christine Chapel (Star Trek: The Original Series)
In the episode “The Naked Time,” Nurse Chapel (Majel Barrett) expresses her love for Spock. He brushes it off as the effect of the disease, but it comes up several times as a one-sided relationship. The difficulties of relationships in the Star Trek world are highlighted by Nurse Christine Chapel’s unrequited love for Spock, which gives her character depth and complexity.
However, the big twist in their relationship was revealed in the prequel series Strange New Worlds, where a younger Spock gets rejected by an also younger Christine. Does this mean Spock is getting revenge for being spurned? We may never know.
3. Miles O’Brien and Keiko Ishikawa (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
Star Trek: The Next Generation introduced a new crew for the larger USS Enterprise, allowing children and families aboard, and allowing for a deeper exploration of interpersonal relationships and family dynamics in a space-age setting. While the relationship between Chief O’Brien and Keiko is controversial, it’s also one of the most enduring. We watch as the couple eventually gets married, has a child, and relocates to Deep Space Nine.
The couple isn’t perfect, but in the end, their omnipresent affection helps their marriage survive various challenges, including alien possessions, age regressions, and murder attempts. Many viewers fail to notice it. “Marriage is the greatest adventure of them all,” O’Brien said. “It’s filled with pitfalls and setbacks and mistakes, but it’s a journey worth taking because you take it together.”
2. Benjamin Sisko and Cassidy Yates (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Odo and Kira develop a complex and evolving romantic relationship. Their journey begins with a strong friendship built on mutual respect and understanding, evolving into romantic feelings that are initially explored separately before culminating in a passionate kiss and eventual relationship. While some found the development of their romance to be compelling due to their established friendship, others found the execution problematic, especially concerning Odo’s initial one-sided pursuit and the eventual romantic pairing.”
1. William T. Riker and Deanna Troi (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
Deanna Troi and William T. Riker, best known for their time on the USS Enterprise-D under Captain Picard, have the best love story in Star Trek. We first meet them under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) as ex-lovers but now close friends. The relationship lasted throughout the series and culminated in their marriage in Star Trek: Nemesis.
Their bond is legendary and resolved happily in Star Trek: Picard, showcasing their love and friendship. Jonathan Frakes and Marina Sirtis’ acting enhances the believable and enjoyable portrayal of Will and Deanna’s romance, showcasing their chemistry, accomplishments, and disappointments.
After exploring the greatest romances in the franchise, you might be wondering how each series stacks up overall. Check out our full ranking of Every Star Trek Series From Worst to Best to see where your favorite shows land.
Which is your favorite romance in Star Trek? Let us know in the comments below!
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